Triple head laundry press



June 1964 E. N. NECKEL TRIPLE HEAD LAUNDRY PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 mmvron.

[b/VUND /V. N'CKEL BY a /A 177' TOR/V5 Y6 Jun 9., 1964 NEcKEL 3,136,079

TRIPLE HEAD LAUNDRY PRESS Filed Nov. 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [an-101m N. NECKEL June 9, 1964 NECKEL 3,136,079

TRIPLE HEAD LAUNDRY PRESS Filed Nov. 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 0/7UNO IV. N'C/TEL wawcegw VHTTQRNE'YS United States Patent 3,136,079 TREPLE HEAD LAUNDRY PRESS Edmund N. Necltel, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to MeGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 5, 1962, er. No. 235,369 13 Claims. (Ci. 3821) This invention relates to a triple head laundry press of the type adapted to simultaneously iron a shirt collar and cuffs in a single operation.

An object of the invention is to provide a press of this character, adapted for operator initiation, wherein the manual initiating or control members are located in strategically convenient positions to facilitate and expedite the ironing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved pneumatic power operating circuit features in a press of the type defined above.

A further object of the invention is to provide a press of the character defined hereinabove, and provided with a novel and improved heating arrangement for the ironing elements of the press.

A further object of the invention is to provide a press as defined hereinabove having a bottom, fixed ironing member, an intermediate movable ironing member, and a top movable ironing member, and wherein both said movable elements are closed in predetermined sequence wherein the intermediate member must be brought to pressing position before closing the top movable member.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following description of one embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a right-hand elevational View of the press, in open position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the upper main part of the press, with members closed.

FIG. 3 is the pneumatic diagram for the press operating power units.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing two of the valve actuators and their interconnection.

FIG. 5 is a sectional, semi-diagrammatic view showing the steam path through the heating means in the three members.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the upper lever 10 made up of a pair of heavy spaced plates 10a, 1% (see also FIG. 2) shaped as shown and suitably connected and braced, is pivotally mounted at 11 in the upper part of the fixed side frames 12. An air motor 13 for a preliminary closing operation is connected to the lever at 14, and the end of the lever is connected at 15 to a high-pressure air-hydraulic motor unit 16, pivotally mounted in the frame at 17. The unit 16 and the arrangement of the lever 10, with the over-center relation of pivots 11, 15, 17 is similar to that shown in the Neckel et al. US. Patent No. 2,948,- 071. At the other end, the lever carries a pressing head member 18, the bottom of which has a pressing plate 18a formed with a pair of inverted V-shaped areas 18b, 18c constituting pressing heads for the respective cuffs. Member 18 can be connected to the lever by any usual means permitting a limited movement therebetween, such as the mobile bolt-and-spring arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. I

Lever 19 carrying the intermediate buck-chest member, is pivotally mounted in the side frames at 20. Like lever 10, this lever is conveniently made of a pair of plates or bars 19a, 19b. The main portions of the length of these are rather closely spaced and go between parts 10a and 10b of the first lever 10. Connected to the back end of the lever 19 is an air motor 21. Near the forward end, lever parts 19a, 1% are more widely separated, and fit through openings in the back wall of intermediate member 22, FIG. 5, wherein they connect as by pivot shaft 23 to the member structure. This, along with the springs 24 seen in FIG. 1, functions like the bolt and spring arrangement of lever 10 to allow a small accommodating movement of the pressing member to assure good pressing engagement. Other suitable means could be used for mounting member 22 on lever 19. p

The upper surface of intermediate member 22 has a pair of convex V-shaped plates 22a, 22b. These are the cuff bucks and are provided with the usual padding 25 and cover cloth 26 secured around a rod at each end, with conventional knob means 27 for fastening the cover snugly. The bottom of member 22 has a concave plate 22c, this constituting the pressing head for the shirt collar.

Spring 28 is anchored in the machine frame at one end, and at its other end is connected to lever 11% so as to keep the lever and member 22 normally raised as shown. Actually there is a pair of these springs, and each is connected pivotally to the end of a pair of short extensions secured integrally to a pivot hub on each side of the lever 19, FIG. 1. Springs 29 hold the first lever 10 open, as shown. Here, the end of the lever contacts a bumper 30. When lever 19 is in open position, the piston rod of the operating motor is fully retracted, as shown (FIG. 1) preventing further movement, there being a resilient bumper ring between the clevis and the end of the cylinder. Any other convenient positioning stop means may, of course, be used.

The bottom pressing member 31 is solidly mounted on the frame, and has a convex plate 31a, provided with padding and cover cloth, constituting the collar buck.

A press of this type, having a plurality of steam-heating pressing members or surfaces, with high and low areas, presents some diificulty in obtaining consistent, uniform heating of all the members. There may be trouble with cold spots caused by condensate settling in some area and the steam by-passing this part. The present arrangement eliminates this difliculty. All the heated areas are connected in series, that is, the steam flows sequentially through all of them, as compared with the individual or parallel steam supply systems heretofore used. Thus, there can be no by-pas'sed areas since the incoming steam starts at the top and travels downward in sequence, forcing along and out any condensate that forms, or preventing its formation.

The type of heating here employed, and particularly adapted'for the purpose, is one wherein shallow steam chambers formed of sheet metal are secured in steam tight fashion, as by welding, to the back surface of the plate to be heated. A given chamber or passage may be arranged as a single unobstructed enclosure or may comprise a zig-zag path of narrower passages formed in the enclosure, depending upon the extent of the surface to be heated. In any event, only the longitudinal extent of the passages or enclosures is here shown, which, with the inlet and outlet points and connecting piping discloses the general series path traversed by the steam, FIG. 5.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the steam is connected from a main supply pipe to a flexible pipe or hose 32. This enters the upper head member 18 and connects, by a pipe or tube 33 to one end of a steam chamber, enclosure, or passage 34. Going out at the other end, the steam path then proceeds by pipe 35 to the 42, then by pipe 43 to enclosure 44 on the bottom, or collar head, plate. Leaving that, the steam proceeds by pipe 45 to flexible hose 46 and through pipe 47 to enclosure 48 on the collar buck, and finally out to pipe 49 and the main steam return pipe.

As previously mentioned there is a tie-in between the pneumatic operating system for the motors and the placement of the operating control buttons or actuators to assure safety, a certain sequence of operations, and an economy of the operators working motions. The diagram, FIG. 3, shows the operating and control parts with the press open, unoperated, as in FIG. 1. The location of the several control buttons is partly seen in FIG. 1, but more particularly in FIG. 2, the press in FIG. 2 be ing in closed position. Assuming that the press is open, the operator grasps the ends of a shirt collar and places the collar on the collar buck 31a, the shirt body lying over bar 50, which preferably has a non-slip finish. Releasing the collar, the operator brings his hands back and operates the two actuators 51a, 52a, which are conveniently positioned for this purpose. This opens the respective valves 51, 52, which are conventional normallyciosed combination inlet-outlet valves. Pressure air from supply pipe 53 and branch 54 thereby goes from valve 51 through pipes 55 and 56 to valve 52, and then by pipes 57 and S8 to the right-hand actuating chamber of slide valve 59, shifting the valve spool assembly to the left, which puts pipe 60 into communication with pipe 61. Pipe 60 is connected to the bottom of air cylinder motor 21. Up to now there has been no pressure air in pipe 61. Concurrently, however, air from valves 51 and 52 goes from pipes 57 and 58 to directional valve 62. This causes the ball 62:: which could be a piston or other equivalent element to close the left-handport and admit air to the actuator diaphragm 63, which operates valve 64. Air is thereby admitted to pipe 61, being supplied to the valve by pipe 65 through air ilcw control valve 66 from air supply pipe 53. The air goes, therefore, from pipe 61, slide valve 59, and pipe 60 to the bottom of motor 21, behind a piston 21a which operates to swing down the intermediate pressing member 22, the collar pressing head 22c thereupon exerting moderate pressure on the shirt collar.

At just about the point where the pressing contact occurs, the motor piston 21a passes the port 21b in the motor cylinder and admits air to pipe 67, thence through pipe 68 to the left-hand end of the directional valve 62. The operator can release the valve actuators 51a, 52:: as soon as the head closes on the collar, since the air from pipe 68 shifts the valve ball 62a instantaneously to the right, so that a maintaining air pressure is effective on the diaphragm in housing 63, keeping valve 64 open. The ball 62a closes the right-hand port and air is prevented from exhausting to the manual valves 51, S2.

The operator new positions the right hand shirt cuff on buck 22a. 69 is a support on which the part of the sleeve in back of the cuff rests, and, like bar 50, is, preferably provided with an anti-slip surface or cover. Supports of these types are conventionally used. The operator' next positions the left hand culf. The upper head is now ready to be closed, and it will be noted that the pair of valve actuators therefor, 72a, 73a, are mounted on the intermediate member 22 in a position for quick, convenient operation as the operator moves his hands back after releasing the cuff.

Operation of the valve actuators 72a, 73a, opens valves 72, 73. Air to valve 72 is supplied from pipes 74, 67, through cylinder 21, pipe 60, slide valve 59, pipe 61 and valve 64. It can be seen that this is dependent on, and is in, the previously described maintaining air circuit, which becomes effective when the pressing member 22 has.

closed. Thus there is no air supply to the valves 72, 73 for the upper head member when the whole press is open, assuring that the heads must be operated in proper order. Air is now admitted through valves 72, 73 to pipe 75 and thence to the left hand port of another directional valve 76. If the movable valve ball '76:: is not already there, the air shifts it to the right, closing the right port and admitting air to diaphragm 77 to operate and open valve 78. Air is supplied to this valve by way of pipe 79 and air flow valve 89 from air supply pipe 53. Air now goes from valve 7 8 through pipe 81 to the bottom of air cylinder motor 13. This moves piston 13a upwardly, and swings the upper head 18 down, the cuff heads 18b, 18c coming into contact with the cuffs on bucks 22a, 22b. At about the point Where the head has closed, piston 13a passes the port 1312 in the cylinder, admitting air by way of pipe 82 to the right hand actuating chamber of slide valve 83. This shifts the valve spool assembly to the left, which places the pipe 84, coming from the upper part of the air cylinder of the air-hydraulic motor unit 16, into communication with valve exhaust 83a. At the same time, it establishes air flow communication between air supply pipe 53 and pipe 85 leading to the bottom of the air cylinder portion of motor unit 16. This produces hydraulically-amplified force which is exerted on the head lever 10 (its pivot end 15 being now over-center to the right), putting full pressing force on the cuffs, and, through intermediate member 22, on the collar. As soon as the head closes, the operator can release valve actua tors 72a, 73a. The valve 78 closes, and the air exhausts from motor 13 through port 78a, which, of course, does not matter, since pressure is now being exerted by unit 16. The operation of lever 10 by a first motor 13, then by unit 16, by means of the slide valve, etc. is the same as disclosed in the aforementioned air-hydraulic laundry press disclosed in US Letters Patent No. 2,948,071, Neckel et al., previously mentioned.

To open the press, the operator presses actuator 86a at the front of the machine. Air from supply branch pipe 87 is admitted to pipe 38 and by way of pipe 89 to the left hand actuator chamber of slide valve 83, shifting the valve spool assembly to the right, whereby pressure air is cut off to bottom pipe 85 to the power unit 16 and admitted to pipe 84; the pipe 85 being connected to exhaust 83b. The unit 16 thereby releases its lever-operating force, and, motor 13 being already exhausted, springs 29 raise lever 10.

Air from release valve 86 has also gone to the left hand valve-actuating chamber of slide valve 59 by way of pipe 88, shifting the valve spool assembly to the right. This cuts off the air to the bottom of motor 21 and allows it to exhaust through the valve. This also releases the pressure in diaphragm 63, allowing valve 64 to close. Springs 28 then raise lever 19. The movement of levers 19 and 19 is regulated by any suitable means, such as by a snubbing arrangement at both ends of motor 21, indicated by adjusting screws 21b, 21c or by a doubleacting snubber within unit 16 or by air-flow control valves 66 and 30 during press closing, or by other suitable means. The other actuator, 89, on the table front operates a so-called tandem valve, which may be connected to another press to open it remotely.

In the case of short sleeved shirts, where there are, of course, no cuffs to press, it is still necessary to have full ironing pressure for the collar, and this must be obtained through motor unit 16 and top pressing member 22. The control is arranged to accomplish this with one operation, by the operator, and not using the previously described sequential operations. It is done as follows: The operator after placing the collar on buck 31a now presses valve actuator 51a with the right hand, but instead of pressing the left hand actuator 52a, he presses the one further to the left of it, 90a. As is indicated in FIG. 1, and more specifically in FIG. 4, the lever of actuator 0a has secured thereto a bar or finger 9012 which extends laterally to overlie the actuator 52a. Thus, when 52a is operated in the usual way, as shown in FIG. 4, it has no elfect on the neighboring actuator. But when, as now being described, actuator 90a is the one operated, the finger 90b pushes down 52a at the same time.

Therefore, referring again to FIG. 1, valves 51, 5,2 and 90 are opened when the operator presses actuators 51a and 90a. Valves 51, 52 effect the closing of the intermediate pressing member in the way already outlined. At the same time, valve 90, which is supplied with air by pipe 55 from right hand manual valve 51,

admits air through pipe 91 to the right hand end of directional valve 76, shifting the valve ball to close off the left hand valve port, and admitting air to diaphragm 77. This operates valve 78, supplying air to preliminary closing motor 13 for the top lever, as would usually be efiected by the operator subsequently operating valves 72, 73. The top member closes and then motor unit 16 exerts full ironing presusre, in the way previously described.

What is claimed is: I

1. A laundry garment press having co-operating pressing members including a bottom member, an intermediate member mounted for swinging movement into registered engagement with the bottom member, and a top member mounted for swinging movement into registered engagement with the intermediate member, first complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the intermediate member and the upper surface of the bottom member for pressing a portion of a garment therebetween, second complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the top member andv the upper surface of the intermediate member for pressing another portion of the garment therebetween, first power means for moving the intermediate member into pressing engagement with the bottom member, second power means for moving the top member into pressing engagement with the intermediate member, and means preventing activation of said second power means until after said first power means has moved said first pressing parts into mutual pressing engagement.

2. A press as defined in claim 1, including manually operatable means for activating said first and second power means, said manually operatable means being disposed in close proximity to said first and second comple mentary pressing parts whereby to facilitate initiation of press operation immediately after disposal of the garment parts on the press for pressing.

3. A laundry garment press having co-operating pressing members including a bottom member, an intermediate member mounted for swinging movement into registered engagement with the bottom member, and a top member mounted for swinging movement into registered engagement with the intermediate member, first complementary pressing parts, on the lower surface of the intermediate member and the upper surface of the bottom member for pressing a portion of a garment therebetween, second complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the top member and the upper surface of the intermediate member for pressing another por-.

tion of the garment therebetween, said bottom member, said intermediate member, and said top member each having heating means consisting of jacketed heating fluid chambers all said chambers havingmutually connected heating fluid supply piping whereby to permit heating fluid to enter at one end of one ofsaid chambers and proceed in series from one chamber to a second and thus to all said chambers in sequence before being exhausted from the last said chamber and returned to the tom member for pressing a portion of a garment therebetween, second complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the top member and the upper surface of the intermediate member for pressing a second portion of the garment therebetween, first power means which, when energized, applies said intermediate member to said bottom member with moderate pressure, second power means which, when energized applies said top member to said intermediate member with moderate pressure, means preventingrenergization of said second power means until after said first power means has been energized, and third power means which, when ener gized applies heavy pressure to said top member and thereby to said intermediate member, and means preventing energization of said third power means until after'energization of said first and second power means in the order stated.

5. A press as defined in claim 4 including first manually operatable means for activating said first power means, second manually. operatable means for activating said second power means, said first-and second manually operatable means being each disposed in close proximity 'to said first and second complementary pressing parts whereby to facilitate energization of said first and second power means in sequence after sequential disposal of the said garment portions between their respective pressing parts. t

6; A laundry garment press having co-operating pressing members including a bottom member, an intermediate member mounted for movement into registered engagement with the bottom member,- and a top member mounted for movement into registered engagement with the intermediate member, first complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the intermediate member and the upper surface of the bottom member for pressing the collar of a shirt therebetween, second complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the top member and the upper surface of the intermediate member for pressing the cuffs of the shirt therebetween, first power means which, when energized, applies moderate ironing pressure to said intermediate member, second power means which, when energized, applies moderate ironing pressure to said top pressing member to urge it downwardly against said intermediate member, means preventing energization of said second power means until after said first power means has been energized, and third power means which, when energized, applies heavy pressure to said top member and thereby to said intermediate member, and means preventing energization of said third power means until after energization of said first and second power means.

7. A laundry garment press having co-operating pressing members including a bottom member, an intermediate member mounted for movement into registered engagement with the bottom member, and a top member mounted for movement into registered engagement with the intermediate member, first complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the intermediate member and the upper surface of the bottom member for pressing the collar of a shirt therebetween, second complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the top member and the pper surface of the intermediate member for pressing the cuffs ofthe shirt therebetween, first power means whichwhen energized applies moderate ironing pressure to said intermediate pressing member, first manual actuating means for causing energization of said first power means, second power means which when energized applies moderate ironing pressure to said top pressing member to urge it downwardly against said intermediate pressing member, second manua1 actuating means for causing energization of said second power member, means preventing energization of' said second power means until after said first power means has been energized, and third powermeans which,

when energized applies heavy pressure to all the con- I Z tacted pressing members, energization of said third power means being automatically responsive to movement of said top pressing means to contact with said intermediate pressing means.

8. A laundry garment press having co-operating pressing members including a bottom member, an intermediate member mounted for swinging movement into registered engagement with the bottom member, and a top member mounted for swinging movement into registered engagement with the intermediate member, first complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the intermediate member and the upper surface of the bottom member for pressing a portion of a garment therebetween, second complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the top member and the upper surface of the intermediate member for pressing another portion of the garment therebetween, first power means for moving the intermediate member into pressing engagement with the bottom member, second power means for moving the top member into pressing engagement with the intermediate member, said first power means including a first power cylinder, a first piston in said cylinder, means, including a connecting rod operatively connecting said first piston to said intermediate member, whereby movement of said first piston actuates said intermediate member, said first piston being movable from a first idle position to a second position in which said intermediate member is moved to pressing engagement, said second power member including a second power cylinder and a second piston therein effective on said top member when saidsecond piston is moved from an idle position to an operating position, and means permitting supply of fluid power to said second power cylinder only when said first piston is moved to its aforesaid second position.

9. A press as defined in claim 8 including a fluid power flow passage between said first power cylinder and said second power cylinder, said passage being disposed to be opened to fiuid flow by movement of said first piston to its second position.

10. A press as defined in claim 9 including an operator-operatable valve in said passage.

11. A press as defined in claim 10 including a third power cylinder which, when energized, causes application of heavy pressure to said top member and thereby to said intermediate member, a fluid power flow passage leading from said second power cylinder andeifective to a cause energization of said third power cylinder after said second piston is moved to its aforesaid operating position.

12. A press as defined in claim 11 wherein energization of said third power cylinder is initiated by movement of said second piston to uncover a fluid outlet flow port in the wall of said second power cylinder.

13. A laundry garment press having co-operating pressing members including a bottom member, an intermediate member mounted for movement into registered engagement with the bottom member, and a top member mounted for movement into registered engagement with the intermediate member, first complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the intermediate member and the upper surface of the bottom member for pressing the collar of a shirt therebetween, second complementary pressing parts on the lower surface of the top member and the upper surface of the intermediate member for pressing the cuffs of the shirt therebetween, first power means which when energized applies moderate ironing pressure to said intermediate pressing member, first manual actuating means for causing energization of said first power means, second power means which when energized applies moderate ironing pressure to said top pressing member to urge it downwardly against said intermediate pressing member, second manual actuating means for causing energization of said second power member, means preventing energization of said second power means until after said first power means has been energized, and third power means which, when energized applies heavy pressure to all the contacted pressing members, energization of said third power means being automatically responsive to movement of said top pressing means to contact with said intermediate pressing means, said garment press including third actuator means and p by pass power circuits for eliminating the operation of the second actuator means, whereby, when the shirt has no cuffs and said second pressing parts are inactive, light and heavy pressure can be applied to said top pressing member responsive to said third actuator means without operation of said second actuator means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,938,883 Winnewisser Dec. 12, .1933 2,778,132 Posey Jan. 22, 1957 I 2,948,071 Neckel Aug. 9, 1960 

1. A LAUNDRY GARMENT PRESS HAVING CO-OPERATING PRESSING MEMBERS INCLUDING A BOTTOM MEMBER, AN INTERMEDIATE MEMBER MOUNTED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT INTO REGISTERED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BOTTOM MEMBER, AND A TOP MEMBER MOUNTED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT INTO REGISTERED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, FIRST COMPLEMENTARY PRESSING PARTS ON THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BOTTOM MEMBER FOR PRESSING A PORTION OF A GARMENT THEREBETWEEN, SECOND COMPLEMENTARY PRESSING PARTS ON THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE TOP MEMBER AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER FOR PRESSING ANOTHER PORTION OF THE GARMENT THEREBETWEEN, FIRST POWER MEANS FOR MOVING THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER INTO PRESSING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BOTTOM MEMBER, SECOND POWER MEANS FOR MOVING THE TOP MEMBER INTO PRESSING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, AND MEANS PREVENTING ACTIVATION OF SAID SECOND POWER MEANS UNTIL AFTER SAID FIRST POWER MEANS HAS MOVED SAID FIRST PRESSING PARTS INTO MUTUAL PRESSING ENGAGEMENT. 